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E. G. STEPHENSON. DEVICE FOR DIGGING WELLS 0R POST HOLES.

Patented Nov. 12, 1889 Suva who; Z a dz efifienson.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI ELAM GRIGORY STEPHENSON, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO .I. G. RIDDLE AND JOHN M. STEPHENSON, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR DIGGING WELLS OR POST- HOLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,873, dated November 12, 1889.

- Application filed June 24,1889. Serial No. 315,373. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- bar O are spring locking-arms F. These arms, Be it known that I, ELAM GRIGORY STE- which have their upper ends secured to the PHENsN,a citizen of the United States, residsaid block, diverge, as shown, and are shouling at Mount Pleasant, in the county of Titus dered at their lower ends at f, so as to engage 5 5 and State of TeXas,have invented certain new the upper edge of the cylinder from within and useful Improvements in Devices for Diggand above, and thereby firmly secure the ging Wells or Post-Holes; and I do declare same and prevent it from rising during operthe following to be a full, clear, and exact deation. scription of the invention, such as will enable The head A is provided with a number of 10 others skilled in the art to which it appertains cutting bits or points, there being two pair to make and use the same. employed. The central cutters or points G This inventionhas relation toimprovements are of broad contour, and are secured to the in devices for digging wells or post-holes; inner sides of the head at diametrically-opand the novely will be fully understood from posite points, with their lower ends curved, 1 the following description and claims, when as shown, so that as the earth is out they will taken in connection with the accompanying have a tendency to force it up into the cyldrawings, in which inder. The cutting-edges of the central cut- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved ter. are slightly curved, so as to present an endevice, showing in dotted lines the cylinder tering-point, and are arranged in approxi- 7o 20 partly raised from the annular head; and Fig. mately-parallel planes diametrically across 2 is a vertical diametrical sectional-view with the head. the cylinder and pivots G removed. H indicate lateral cutters,which are secured Referring by letter to the said drawings, A to the headAat diametrically-opposite points, indicates the annular head, which is prefertheir cutting-edges being in vertical positions 2 5 ably made of stout metal, although it may be relatively to the head, and are directed oppomade of any suitable material. This annusitely with respect to each other. These latlar head has secured to it at diametricallyeral cutters slightly overlie the internal area opposite points the parallel branches of the of the head, and are designed to cut suffiframe B, which is here shown as being comciently in diameter to permit the cylinder o posed of two metallic bars casecured together being freely enteredand Withdrawn. In apat their upper ends with an interposed block plying these cutters to the head I design to O, which is provided with a vertically-disha 'e the heads of the securing-bolts counterposed loop I), for the attachment of a handle sunk on the outer sides, so as to offer no obor other means whereby the device may be struction to the free and easy movement of 3 5 manipulated. The arms a are secured to the the apparatus.

inner sides of the annular head A, and eX- In operation, when the cylinder has been tend in a vertical plane coincident with that seated upon the upper edge of the head A' and of the interior of the said head, so as to perwithin the band E, the arms F will clamp the mit the cylinder or drum to be snugly seated upper edge of the cylinder and hold it firmly o 0 on the upper edge of the said head and braced in position. Now, when motion has been imin position by the said arms a. parted to the frame and its block G by hand or D indicates the cylinder, which is designed other motive power, the cutters will travel in to be arranged in a vertical position with its the earth, drawing the auger after them, and I lower edge resting upon the upper edged of feeding the earth up into the cylinder,which, 5 45 the head A, and the said cylinder is confined when full, may be drawn out. hen the apthereon by means of an annular band E, separatus has been raised, it is simply necescured to the upper edge of the head and eX- sary to press the spring holding-arms intending sufliciently above the latter toform wardly, so as to disengage their shoulders an interspace e with respect to the arms a, as from the upper edge of the cylinder,when the no 50 shown. latter can be lifted from its seat upon the Secured to opposite sides of the block or head, and the arms F, passing into the cylinder, may assist in discharging the contained earth therefrom.

The cylinder may be made of sheet metal or other material, and the Whole device may be turned by hand or other suitable means.

The device may be cheaply manufactured, and the parts, being very durable, are not liable to get out of order.

Having described my in vention,what I claim 1s-- 1. A post-hole or Well boring machine consisting of the annular head having arms a secured thereto and extending upwardly parallel, centering cutters curved and secured to the lower edge of the head, and lateral cutters also secured to the head with their cuttingedges directed oppositely, a band secured to the upper edge of the head to receive within it a cylinder, the spring-arms secured to the main frame and having engaging shoulders, and the vertically-movable cylinder adapted to be secured upon the upper edge of the head and Within the band thereof by the springarms engaging the upper ends of the cylinder, substantially as specified.

2. In an earth-boring machine, the combination, with a suitable head carrying cutters, of a vertically-movable cylinder adapted to rest upon the head, and spring-arms or yielding arms adapted to engage the upper edge of the cylinder from Within and above and secure the same to the head, substantially as ELAM GRIGORY STEPHENSON.

Witnesses:

W. H. BLYTHE, S. D. SNODGRASS. 

